REPORT NUMBER 55 OF THE UTSC ACADEMIC AFFAIRS COMMITTEE
February 9, 2022
To the Campus Council,
University of Toronto Scarborough,
Your Committee reports that it met virtually, on Wednesday, February 9, 2022 at 3:10 p.m., with the following members present:
Present: Sonja Nikkila (Chair), Gillian Mason (Vice-Chair), William A. Gough (Vice-Principal Academic & Dean), Irena Creed (Vice-Principal, Research and Innovation), Katie Larson (Vice-Dean, Teaching, Learning & Undergraduate Programs), Mary Silcox (Vice-Dean, Graduate & Postdoctoral Studies), Syed Ahmed, Beheshta Ali Dad Khan, George Arhonditsis, Corinne Beauquis, Glenn Brauen, Shelley Brunt, Elyse Caron-Beaudoin, Shadi Dalili, Connie Guberman, Angela Hamilton, Paula Hastings, John Hannigan, Joseph Hermer, Margaret Kohn, Randy Lundy, Karen McCrindle, Michelle Ramnaraine, Laura Risk, Paulina Rousseau, Sofia Suleman, Jinny Tsang, Shelby Verboven, Kenneth Welch, Liana Williams
Non-Voting Assessors: Martha Harris, Annette Knott, Hugh Laurence, Varsha Patel
In Attendance: Dan Bender, Sarah Chaudhry, Annette Knott, Kathy Liddle, Arifa Nitol, Anthony Ruocco, Karina Vernon
Regrets: Wisdom Tettey (Vice President and Principal), David Zweig (Acting Vice-Dean Recruitment, Enrolment & Student Success), Sandra Bamford, April Franco, Barry Freeman, Vina Goghari, Irmi Hutfless, Faizah Islam, Jubayer Jalal, Thembela Kepe, Neil ten Kortenaar, Patricia Landolt, Daniel Lysak, Sharlene Mollett, Michael Molloy, Juvenal Ndayiragije, Malaika Rashid, Mahinda Samarakoon, Larry Sawchuk, Sonja Sedivy, Michelle Silver, Phil Triadafilopoulos, Jessica Wilson, Marco Zimmer-De Iuliis
Secretariat: Emma Thacker (Secretary), Timothy Harlick
OPEN SESSION
- Chair’s Remarks
Professor Sonja Nikkila, Chair of the Academic Affairs Committee, welcomed members and guests. She also provided members with an update on the 2022 governance elections, noting that the voting period would open from February 7 to 18, 2022.
- New Program: Master of Science, Environmental Science (MSc), UTSC
The Chair invited Professor Mary Silcox (Vice-Dean Graduate & Postdoctoral Studies), to present the item. Professor Silcox explained that the proposed program was designed to address the needs of high-achieving students seeking an intensive research-focused master’s degree. The MSc would fill a program gap, as there was no research-based MSc program in support of the PhD in Environmental Science. The program length was proposed at 16-months (four continuous sessions) with a May start date, to allow for early immersion in original field research. MSc students would receive funding for 12 of the 16 months. There had been extensive consultation across the University regarding this proposal. Members had no questions.
On motion duly made, seconded, and carried,
YOUR COMMITTEE RECOMMENDED,
THAT the new Master of Science in Environmental Science, as described in the proposal dated January 26, 2022 and recommended by the Vice-Principal Academic and Dean, Professor William A. Gough, be approved to be effective for May 2023.
- Minor Modification: Graduate Collaborative Specialization in Food Studies (Adding Spanish PhD), UTSC
The Chair invited Professor Mary Silcox to present the item. The Culinaria Research Centre was proposing to add the PhD in Spanish as a participating program to the existing Collaborative Specialization in Food Studies. A member asked if other language programs could be added. Professor Bender responded yes, others could join, pending approvals.
On motion duly made, seconded, and carried,
YOUR COMMITTEE APPROVED,
THAT the addition of the PhD in Spanish to the existing Collaborative Specialization in Food Studies as part of the Culinaria Research Centre (EDU:C), as detailed in the documentation dated January 25, 2022, be approved, effective September 1, 2022.
- Minor Modification: Graduate Curriculum, Graduate Department of Physical and Environmental Sciences, UTSC
The Chair invited Professor Mary Silcox to present the item, brought forward from the Graduate Department of Physical and Environmental Sciences. Professor Silcox provided highlights of the proposed changes which included one new course, and three course changes. The changes were proposed to become effective for the 2022-23 academic year. Members had no questions.
On motion duly made, seconded, and carried,
YOUR COMMITTEE APPROVED,
THAT the proposed Graduate Department of Physical and Environmental Sciences graduate curriculum changes for the 2022-23 academic year, as detailed in the respective curriculum report, dated January 25, 2022, be approved.
- Minor Modification: Curriculum Change, GRE, Graduate Department of Psychological Clinical Science, UTSC
The Chair invited Professor Mary Silcox to present the item, brought forward from the Graduate Department of Psychological Clinical Science. Professor Silcox provided highlights of the proposed change which was to remove the ‘General and Subject Test Graduate Record Examination’ (GRE) as an admission requirement for the MA and PhD programs in Counselling and Clinical Psychology (Clinical Psychology field). The changes were proposed to become effective for the 2022-23 academic year.
A member asked if the GRE admission requirement change was becoming more common. Professor Silcox responded that yes, many graduate programs had opted to permanently remove the exam for application and admission. This movement was in response to recent awareness that the test may place underrepresented groups at a disadvantage.
On motion duly made, seconded, and carried,
YOUR COMMITTEE APPROVED,
THAT the proposed Graduate Department of Psychological Clinical Science graduate curriculum changes for the 2022-23 academic year, as detailed in the respective curriculum report, dated January 25, 2022, be approved.
- Minor Modification: Undergraduate Curriculum, Humanities, UTSC
The Chair invited Professor Katie Larson (Vice-Dean, Teaching, Learning & Undergraduate Programs), to present the item. The minor curricular changes were brought forward from the Department of English (5 new courses), and the Centre for Teaching & Learning (2 new courses). The courses would be effective for the 2022-23 academic year. Members had no questions.
On motion duly made, seconded, and carried,
YOUR COMMITTEE APPROVED,
THAT the proposed Humanities undergraduate curriculum changes for the 2022-23 academic year, as detailed in the respective curriculum reports, dated January 19, 2022, be approved.
- Minor Modification: Undergraduate Curriculum, Social Sciences, UTSC
The Chair invited Professor Katie Larson to present the item. The minor curricular changes were brought forward from the Department of Human Geography (2 new courses), Department of Political Science (8 new courses), and the Department of Psychology (3 new courses). The courses would be effective for the 2022-23 academic year. Members had no questions.
On motion duly made, seconded, and carried,
YOUR COMMITTEE APPROVED,
THAT the proposed Social Sciences undergraduate curriculum changes for the 2022-23 academic year, as detailed in the respective curriculum reports, dated January 19, 2022, be approved.
- Minor Modification: Undergraduate Curriculum (Out of Cycle Courses, Summer 2022), UTSC
The Chair invited Professor Katie Larson to present the item. The minor curricular changes were brought forward from the Department of Health & Society (1 new course), Department of Management (1 new course), and the Department of Sociology (1 new course). The courses would be effective for the 2021-22 academic year. Members had no questions.
On motion duly made, seconded, and carried,
YOUR COMMITTEE APPROVED,
THAT the proposed Out-of-Cycle undergraduate curriculum changes for the Summer 2022, part of the 2021-2022 academic year, as detailed in the respective curriculum reports, dated January 19, 2022, be approved.
- Report of the Presidential Assessors
The Chair invited Professor Irena Creed (Vice-Principal, Research & Innovation) to present her report. Professor Creed reported on the progress of the ‘Environmental and Related Technologies Hub’ also known as the ‘EaRTH District.’ The Earth District was an innovation ecosystem committed to offering research and training opportunities to develop innovative, technology driven solutions that would fuel sustainable, resilient communities around the world. She noted the collaborating institutions (Trent, Durham, Centennial, OntarioTech, and UTSC) and reported that those involved were working towards establishing a governance structure, expanding teaching and learning opportunities, and seeking transformational funding.
Professor Creed also reported on an upcoming symposium called ‘Partnership for Inclusive Health: Bridging the Equity Gap in the Eastern GTA’ planned for February 23, 2022. The symposium would bring together UTSC-based health researchers, community health advocates, and senior leaders for discussions that would explore health inequities within the Eastern GTA and define pathways to improving the health and well-being of communities in the region, with a focus on health as a human right. The event would address three primary health needs including the lack of comprehensive care throughout a life cycle; the broader determinants of health through evidence informed policy and actions, and; empowering individuals/families and communities as advocates for shaping health policy.
The Chair invited Professor William A. Gough (Vice-Principal Academic & Dean) to present his report. Professor Gough reported that the first phase of the return to in-person learning was underway, noting that a second wave of students would return to campus following Reading Week. He noted that 20% of offerings would continue online for the remainder of the term, with increased summer offerings. Some vaccine non-compliant students had been de-enrolled from their in-person component courses (3% of UTSC students). Of this group, 2/3rd had since uploaded their vaccine status, and were re-enrolled in their courses.
A member asked about accommodations related to COVID. Members of the administration suggested that the student begin with an Academic Advisor in their unit and clarified that student accommodations were provided through AccessAbility Services.
CONSENT AGENDA
On motion duly moved, seconded, and carried,
YOUR COMMITTEE APPROVED,
THAT the consent agenda be adopted and that Item 11 - Report of the Previous Meeting, be approved.
- Minor Modifications to Undergraduate Curriculum, UTSC
- Report of the Previous Meeting: Report Number 54 – January 10, 2022
The report of the previous meeting was approved.
- Business Arising from the Report of the Previous Meeting
There was no business arising from the report of the previous meeting.
- Date of Next Meeting – March 23, 2022 at 3:10 p.m.
The Chair advised members that the Committee would meet again on Wednesday, March 23, 2022 at 3:10 p.m.
- Other Business
No other business was raised by members.
The meeting adjourned at 4:10 p.m.
February 24, 2022